#Fitspo: Serena Williams’s SI Swimsuit Issue Photos Are The Only Thing You Need To See Today

We all know good and damn well that the point of the Sport’s Illustrated Swimsuit Issue is not to sell anybody’s bikinis. Instead, the intent is to show off the bodies of the women in them. But if you’re going to display the usually lauded waiflike or busty figures, at this point, you can’t leave out the curvaceous ones. That’s why Serena Williams was included in the group of beauties who photographed for the annual issue. And while we would have preferred to see her shine on the cover in place of Kate Upton, who was given three covers (there was talk that she and Christie Brinkley were supposed to be on the other two covers), she’s still slaying within the pages.

While speaking on the shoot behind the scenes, which took place in Turks & Caicos, Williams shared that one of the swimsuits was a first for her — the thong bikini. It was actually the first swimsuit she had to put on for the photo shoot, and now, Williams says she’s about to include them in her getaway bag.

“I’ve never worn a thong bikini, so for that to be my first shot was like a shot of espresso for me because I had to wake up immediately,” she told the magazine. “The thong is perfect, it really made me feel comfortable. I’m officially a thong girl now!”

She also said that she’s excited to be part of a Swimsuit Issue that is celebrating diverse bodies and women of all ages this year.

“I want people to come away with the fact that it’s okay to be comfortable in your body,” she said. “I’m not a size two. It’s okay to look good and feel good and I’m strong. It’s okay to look strong and to be sexy and to be a woman and to be unbreakable — all those things. I really want to have that influence for people out there that have my body type. I want them to be like, ‘I look good too.’ That’s what I hope for.”

Check out more images from her uber-sexy shoot and get your fitness inspiration to go hard at the gym tonight: